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November 10, 2006
The WTO's "window of opportunity"
Reuters carries the headline "Global free trade talks back on agenda," but the only support within the article for that claim is "WTO chief Pascal Lamy... says that negotiators now have a brief 'window of opportunity' to resume talks." Lamy's job is to play the role of optimist, so that's unsurprising. More insightful is this paragraph:
Three months on, nothing fundamental seems to have changed, and trade diplomats are pessimistic about concluding a deal that was supposed to rebalance trade rules in favour of the poor and boost business worldwide.
[HT: GI]
Posted by Dingel at November 10, 2006 03:49 PM
Comments
Doha is dead. However, the WTO´s role might be enhanced in the future. One of the interesting papers you have mentioned identifies new challenges for the organization in a time of trade & pasta.
Posted by: Enrique at November 11, 2006 02:29 PM
With fast track authority almost certainly off the table for the present administration, Doha is looking in even worse shape. Of course, they have hardly demonstrated a commitment to getting the deal finished, thus far, so it would be unfair to blame eventual failure on Congressional opposition.
Posted by: Milan at November 11, 2006 05:13 PM